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Luke 18: Humble Prayer and Childlike Faith

Through parables and encounters, Jesus shows that the kingdom belongs to the persistent, the humble, the childlike, and those who follow him wholeheartedly.

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Luke 18 (WEB)

1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,

2 saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect man.

3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’

4 He wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,

5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”

6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

7 Won’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.

10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’

13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

15 They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16 Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

17 Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one—God.

20 You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”

21 He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.”

22 When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me.”

23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.

24 Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!

25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

27 But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

28 Peter said, “Look, we have left everything, and followed you.”

29 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God’s Kingdom’s sake,

30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”

31 He took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.

32 For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.

33 They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”

34 They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.

35 As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.

36 Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.

37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

38 He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,

41 “What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”

42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”

43 Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.

Summary

Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow and an unjust judge to teach his followers to keep praying and not lose heart. He then contrasts a self-righteous Pharisee with a humble tax collector, declaring that the one who begged for mercy went home justified rather than the one who trusted in himself. Jesus welcomes little children and says the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it like a child. A rich ruler asks how to inherit eternal life but goes away sad, unwilling to part with his wealth, prompting Jesus to teach how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom and how God makes the impossible possible. Jesus foretells his suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem, and finally heals a blind beggar who calls out for mercy and follows him, glorifying God.

Main Characters

  • Jesus — Teaches on prayer and humility, blesses children, and heals a blind beggar near Jericho
  • The Pharisee and tax collector — Two men at prayer whose contrasting hearts reveal the way of justification
  • The rich ruler — A man who keeps the commandments but cannot surrender his wealth to follow Jesus
  • The blind beggar — Cries out for mercy, receives his sight, and follows Jesus glorifying God

Key Verse

Luke 18:14 (WEB)

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Lessons Learned

  • God calls his people to pray persistently and to trust that he will bring about justice.
  • Those who humble themselves before God, not those who boast in themselves, are justified.
  • The kingdom of God is received with the trust and dependence of a little child.
  • Following Jesus may cost us what we hold most dear, but he gives far more than we surrender.
  • God's people should pray and never give up. Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow so that they 'ought always to pray, and not to faint' (Luke 18:1, WEB).
  • God justifies the humble, not the self-righteous. The tax collector who prayed, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' went home justified rather than the boasting Pharisee (Luke 18:13-14, WEB).
  • The kingdom belongs to the childlike. Jesus says, 'Whoever doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it' (Luke 18:17, WEB).
  • What is impossible for us is possible with God. When asked who then can be saved, Jesus answers, 'The things which are impossible with men are possible with God' (Luke 18:27, WEB).
  • Persistent, believing prayer is heard by Jesus. The blind man cried, 'Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!' and Jesus said, 'your faith has healed you' (Luke 18:38, 42, WEB).
  1. What does the parable of the persistent widow teach us about prayer and God's character?
  2. How do the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector differ, and what does Jesus say about each man?
  3. Why does Jesus point to little children as a picture of those who enter the kingdom?
  4. What kept the rich ruler from following Jesus, and what does Jesus say about wealth and salvation?
  5. Where in your own life might Jesus be asking you to let go of something in order to follow him more fully?
  1. The unjust judge finally grants the widow justice because of her persistence (Luke 18:4-5). Jesus argues from the lesser to the greater: if even a corrupt judge yields, our just God will surely bring justice to those who cry to him day and night (18:7-8).
  2. The Pharisee trusts in his own righteousness and looks down on others, while the tax collector simply begs for mercy (Luke 18:11-13). Jesus says the humble man went home justified, for those who exalt themselves will be humbled (18:14).
  3. Jesus welcomes the children and says the kingdom belongs to such as these (Luke 18:16). Children come with dependence and trust rather than achievement, which is exactly how the kingdom is received.
  4. The ruler is unwilling to sell what he has and follow Jesus, and goes away sorrowful because he is very rich (Luke 18:22-23). Jesus warns how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom, yet what is impossible for people is possible with God (18:24-27).
  5. This is a personal application question. Invite members to consider honestly what competes with their devotion to Jesus. As leader, encourage open sharing and reassure the group of Christ's grace, and do not press anyone to share more than they wish.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.